Before we lose track...the Black Books case history

The Sheldon Black Books were issued in a limited series of a few hundred copies of each volume. I thought it might be interesting to see how many of these we can track down through TNF before the inevitable happens and someone starts producing replicas (or reproductions).

Record Books:
The Formula One Record Book (Thompson, publ 1974)
The Formula 1 Record Book 1966 #39
A Record of the RAC British Hill Climb Championship #60
A Record of Tasman Formula Racing 1960 - 1969 (Nicholl) #99
A Record of South African F1 #42

Since Marc posted his collection, I better show mine as well, although I am really waiting for the new Blue Books to come out. The kind of record keeping displayed in this thread does not make much sense to me but here it is for Roger's pleasure:

Vol 1 - unnumbered
Vol 2 - #44
Vol 3 - #231
Vol 4 - #172

I have never been that much interested in the F1 races after 1950 to warrant acquiring Black Books or copies thereof but have followed the grand prix races since 1951 by attendance, via radio, newspapers, magazines or TV. I enjoyed that immensely and have wonderful memories.

I find myself understanding both points of view, that of Hans as well as that of Roger. However, I do think that Roger has touched a chord here since there is that bit of curiosity that we all have as to just who has which number in The Black Books. Not anything of true importance, but just a bit of fun. For example, the conjohn sequencing is quite amazing in its consistency.

Another subtle issue is just the sheer depth of the effort that The Black Books and The Blue Books demonstrate. Many can say what they wish about Dr. Paul Sheldon, his wife Betty, and all the others who were involved in the assembling of these reference works, but I am always thankful for their labors. They certainly opened some doors for me for which I am grateful.

I agree, nothing wrong with this at all. These volumes may not be Palawan standard, and have the occasional mistake and printer's error - about thirty pages of the 1964 Formula 1 season is printed upside down and backwards in my copy - but who cares? They represent one of the most useful things anyone has ever done for our hobby. Paul Sheldon and his colleagues deserve a medal.

Right then...

Volume I, No number
Volume II, Number 173
Volume III, Number 122
Volume IV, Number 157
Volume V, No number
Volume VI, No number
Volume VII, Number 240
Volume VIII, Number 61
Volume IX, Number 186
Volume X, Number 42
Volume XI, Number 47
Volume XII, Number 124

1966 Record Book, Number 65

R.A.C. Hillclimb Championship 1947-1994, Number 114

The first few from Chater's, as I was living in Hounslow at the time, then Mill House. You can probably spot the ones that came out during "busy periods" of my life and those that appeared when I had more time to react. Like Tim, I was let down by Mill House on Volume XII ("the stock we have received is not of sufficient quality..."), so I wrote to St. Leonard's and got one (in perfect condition) direct, hence the delay on that one's number. Didn't know XIII was out yet, must get my order in...if you lot have left me any.

Originally posted by Roger Clark The Sheldon Black Books were issued in a limited series of a few hundred copies of each volume. I thought it might be interesting to see how many of these we can track down through TNF before the inevitable happens and someone starts producing replicas (or reproductions).

My own are:

to register the register

Volume I, No numberVolume II, Number 105Volume III, Number 188Volume IV, Number 232Volume V, No numberVolume VI, No numberVolume VII, Number 200Volume VIII, Number 71Volume IX, Number 163Volume X, Number 89Volume XI, Number No numberVolume XII, Number 33

Originally posted by ensign14 And Felix has number 93 of the South African thing and I have 94. Once upon a time they were on a St Leonards Press table on top of each other...now a couple of thousand miles apart...

Originally posted by Roger Clark My life is not that sad. I thought the thread might be a bit of fun, but if it's too trivial then I'll delete it.

No reason to close shop, Roger! My remark should probably not have been made here just because of my different view. I did not intend to rock your boat. For example, I do not expect Karl or Doug to post here showing us what they have in their collections, which of course many would be interested to know and at least I would be surprised if they did.

I will say that this post seems to be quite popular by the amount of responses and certain remarks are quite entertaining to me. Many of us are waiting for the next generation of Paul Sheldon books, which I just called Blue Books or they might be coming in dark green covers from the U.K.

Besides feeling a little inadequate because of the size of my collection, I am wondering how long ago most of you bought these books. Hen's teeth and rocking horse poo are somewhat easier to obtain these days.

I got mine almost when they came out, I'd heard about them in Motor Sport (I think) and when I bought the first it was like gold dust. I just HAD to have the others as soon as they became available.

I was still at school at the time, trying to fit a Saturday job to buy these and Autocourses and Birmingham City tickets et al around GCSEs (thank God they were a piece of piss) and A-levels. Then worked through my year out and during University hollygogs to fund myself through it. Think I had 1 week proper holiday between 1991 and 1995...

I bought the F1 Record Book when Frewins published it - 1975 or thereabouts. First two black books I bought were 5 & 6 - got them both together at Motor Books in about 1992. Others all acquired in the past 4 years: Vol 1 from WHS on the same deal Darren got, Vol 4 from Pooks at Goodwood FoS, 2 & 3 from Hortons, also at the FoS. "Milestones" a few months back from Book Barn (big s/hand emporium a couple of miles from where I live).

I stumbled upon The Record Book almost by accident within months of its being released. It was nice to know that kindred souls actually existed in the universe. I don't recall exactly how I found out about it, but I ended up with two of them -- one from Classic Motorbooks back when they were still in Minneapolis and one from a pilot friend who snagged one for me. One was given as a gift to a friend and I kept one.

When I first got wind of The Black Books, it was 1989 or 1990. I was passing through the UK as the bag-toter for my general and had an afternoon to myself and found in one of the bookstores I knew about -- I cannot recall which one to save my life at the moment. Most of them after that I bought directly from Betty and Paul.

It was amazing how much information that the books contained compared to what I had managed to dredge up over the years. The real difference was in the material from the non-WDC events during the period after 1949. The data from prior to 1950 was usually priceless in my view since I just didn't have the resources to construct the data as they had managed to do so. I was often holding very incomplete data on so many races.

Again, while so many are quick to poo-poo The Black Books these days, it was a very different story a decade or more ago..... and most conveniently forget that minor fact of life. The Black Books put the mark on the wall and opened many a door. I certainly will not forget that.